Last year my Mother dug this out and gave it to me.
It appears to be an M-1965 field jacket made in 1972 based on the contract number above. It still fits even though its been around since the *cough* mid 70's. I have looked around on the Interwebz and it seems prudent to NOT wear this jacket tomorrow
So be it. It's a safe queen jacket. Never thought I would have one of those.
If you look around on the surplus sites, you should be able to find a liner for it. That should be good (with a sweater underneath) down to 20F or so. They are awesome at blocking the wind as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chaplain!
DeleteA most excellent jacket indeed. But small short? Whodathunkit?
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah...get the liner. Worth every penny.
They run a bit large! Maybe noe so much with the liner though.
DeleteI know that they do. I'm a medium long myself, but you ain't that much smaller.
DeleteI've got a couple of them, too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't earn mine they way you did, but got them at a surplus store when you could still buy the "Made in U.S.A." ones.
This one was made in the US and in pretty good shape.
DeleteGovernment definition of cold... you survived... :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL! Indeed NFO!
DeleteHaha. Two-ply canvas. It was never a good coat. Wouldn't keep you warm. Wouldn't keep you dry. Didn't have pockets for your hands. Did have a hood rolled up in the collar, but 1sg's would blow a seal if you ever tried to use it. The gore-tex jacket was much better, especially after the after-market buttons got installed so you could button in a liner.
ReplyDeleteBut the black fleece jacket is the only one I still have and still wear because it is just so cozy.
--Hale
Well, it is what it is and welcome!
DeleteThey issued those, with liners, to all new arrivals on Adak - I wore mine once when winter hit, and exchanged it for an Air Force snorkel parka. At least I was warm, then.
ReplyDeleteLOL Shepard!
DeleteI still have my original issue (OD green) and my woodland camo one. They work OK for mild cold, with a liner they are pretty fair down to maybe 25-30 deg.
ReplyDeleteThanks Duke!
DeleteIt still fits? SRSLY?
ReplyDeleteK, you either have a naturally high metabolism, or unearthly discipline.
I haz an envy.
Yeah, it does, but if I put a liner in it maybe not my friend!
DeleteThe M65 is still my standard cold weather deer hunting jacket. With the liner and a military wooly pooley pull over sweater, a combination that was comfortable and made for the outdoors. When I bought it in the mid 80's, I was an extra large - I bought it XXL so I could layer it and it was one of the smarter decisions I made back then. :^) Loose fit = dead air, excellent insulation.
ReplyDeleteI keep an extra liner to wear inside the house during the winter. We don't turn on the heat very often and its extremely lightweight makes a good lounging inside jacket - you hardly know its even on.
First day in ROTC I walked into the supply sergeant's office. he looked up ... and up ... and up.
ReplyDelete"Oh crap!" he said.
I had fatigues by the end of the week due to Ft. Lee being only an hour south of campus. Boots took a few weeks longer.
Didn't have Class A uniform until the next semester.